Stark: Marlins Could Be Big Players This Off-Season UPDATE: All Big Names In Play

[MiamiHomer]

Just some more talk about Marlins spending a lot in Frisaro Q&A:

There is talk that the Marlins will sign big name free agents. They haven't done so before, will they really do so now? Who might be some of the players they go after?
-- Eric F., Hollywood, Fla.

Everything is now changing with the franchise set to move into its new ballpark. With new revenue streams, expect the Marlins to be active on the market as their payroll projects to dramatically rise. By how much? That depends on who the club attracts.

From what I've heard in recent days, the team ideally would like to add a free agent who will guarantee huge ticket sales beyond next year. Naturally, the club anticipates big crowds for its first season in its retractable-roof stadium. But what about after that? To generate a long-lasting buzz, the team feels it needs a major impact player who has star power. That's why I fully expect the Marlins to make a strong push for Albert Pujols. And, yes, I think the team would offer more than $200 million, with the years to be worked out.

Pujols would provide the star power to energize the market, much the same way LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have done for the Miami Heat.

If Pujols opts to stay in St. Louis or go elsewhere, I expect the Marlins to make a similar full-court press on Prince Fielder.

Those are the two impact players that the team would consider spending in upwards of $150 million.

Inbox: Will the Marlins go after Pujols?

[Metes]

Full-court press? Don't mix metaphors, Joe.

[Bobbob1313]

I really don't want Prince Fielder.

[Metes]

Is it just because he's fat? Because he hits rather well.

[Bobbob1313]

Is it just because he's fat? Because he hits rather well.

Poor defender, poor base runner, provides zero value if he's not hitting for elite power.

He has to be absolutely at his peak as a hitter to come close to providing the type of value he'll be paid for.

If his ISO drops to .190 like it did last year, he's not nearly as good a hitter, and becomes a pretty meh player as a whole.

I understand going after Pujols. He's such a dynamic hitter that basically everything has to go wrong for him to start losing value, and he moves tickets even if the price is going to be outrageous.

Fielder basically has to hit 75 extra base hits to have anything close to elite value. He has as many sub-.900 OPS seasons as plus-.900 OPS seasons. In those three sub-.900 OPS years, he has a combined 4.3 WAR.

The lack of fitness just multiplies those issues as he ages.

[Ralph]

Understand Bobo there. Dont want to have a Ryan Howard situation where he's been worth 3 wins past couple of years making 20+ mill.

[Bobbob1313]

Yep. There's basically no room for regression for him to be an elite player.

[Metes]

I think that's a bit nitpicky. Still an OBP above .400 the last three years while only missing one game. I'm not buying some big power drain as he enters his prime.

Howard is also not a good comp (not sure if you were comparing), as he's a much more one-dimensional hitter.

[AdamRavs]

Prince as a hitter I want on the Marlins.. In the field he is eh.. He makes the routine plays but has very little range to make the tough plays.

Also a lefty power bar would be nice in our lineup

[Omar]

Full-court press? Don't mix metaphors, Joe.

He should have definitely gone 'swing for the fences' there

[lou]

I don't think Prince is going to be a 6+ WAR player for 6-8 years to warrant the $18-22 he will make annually. I understand they want to bring in a marquee name, but they still have to be smart about it. Pujols scares me too, but his low should still be moderately more tolerable than Prince. I'd still pass on both and go with CJ/Buerhle as the big acquisition for 4-5 years, 2 year deals for Aramis, Beltran, get Zambrano and cash for Coghlan or whatever, and trade Gaby/Dominguez/Leo for as much young pitching as you can get (moving Morrison to 1B). Fill out some role players, buyout Stanton for 7 years, and that team is awesome.

[Omar]

If the article is accurate, CJ/Buerhle aren't what the Marlins are looking for. Neither of them are selling tickets in 2013.

The only free agents that meet that criteria are Pujols, Reyes, and Fielder (I'd say in that order in Miami).

[HUGG]

Do you think they would sell more tickets in 2013 with the CJ/Buehrle/Aramis, etc. team and coming off being a playoff team than they would with Pujols and maybe one other free agent and coming off 85 wins?

I'm not saying those are the only 2 possible results, but winning is still what's gonna matter in the end right?

[Bobbob1313]

I think that's a bit nitpicky. Still an OBP above .400 the last three years while only missing one game. I'm not buying some big power drain as he enters his prime.

Howard is also not a good comp (not sure if you were comparing), as he's a much more one-dimensional hitter.

I'm not saying there will necessarily be a huge power drain. I'm saying he's already shown that he's not always an elite player. But he's going to be paid like one.

If he can replicate this year until he's 33, awesome. But if he just regressed a little to who he was last year or 08, that's going to be a bad contract.

[Omar]

Do you think they would sell more tickets in 2013 with the CJ/Buehrle/Aramis, etc. team and coming off being a playoff team than they would with Pujols and maybe one other free agent and coming off 85 wins?

I'm not saying those are the only 2 possible results, but winning is still what's gonna matter in the end right?

In that hypothetical, probably. I think the question for the Marlins, though, is who sells most on their own anyway. Because, let's face it - a team with a 3-4-5 of Pujols-Hanley-Stanton (especially if we're also looking at bringing in a Carlos Zambrano arm and still would have 15 mil or so to spend this offseason) would have a high probability of making the playoffs.

If a team with Pujols and a $100 M payroll misses on the playoffs because of injuries/pissing off destiny/general-Marlins behavior, it's more likely to still bring fans in '13 than the same situation but with a core of Wilson/Aramis.